Forum Activity for @tmc-chase

Hall of Shame

Stock Car Racing History

Each year, all will have opinions as to to to who should be chosen. Big Bill = Big Power. Bill Jr. = Big Influence. Brian = Big Bureaucrat. I truly don't believe Brian can leverage anyone to do anything.

But...I do believe a large part of the voting bloc knows more about the contemporary era vs. the ones of 40-50-60 years ago.

• I'm cool with Terry - he's a 2x Cup champ. Damn tough to win 1 title much less 2. Deserved.
• Pops - I waffle on Curtis. His legend seems to be bigger than his record. But perhaps all the more reason to put him in the Hall of FAME. Plus, I think it's very relevant that he and Bruton are in the same class considering their dual efforts to build a Charlotte-area superspeedway in 1959-1960/
• Bruton - yes, he has squashed Curtis' lead in building CMS. But he did put his stones on the counter to form SMI and bring Wall Street's risk acceptance to his portfolio. Helped NASCAR leverage opportunities at Atlanta (barely), Vegas, wine country, Bristol's coliseum, DFW metroplex, etc. Did he do so at the expense of Wilkesboro, The Rock, and the Bahres in Loudon? Yes. But, attendance, ratings, sponsorship investment, etc. increased as a result of those brutally tough business decisions.
• Jerry Cook - An in-the-fairway choice.
• Isaac - An entrant that could easily be debated against Parsons' candidacy. But deserved nonetheless.

Hall of Shame

Stock Car Racing History

Never an easy answer 2x per year. Once, when a new group of 5 nominees is announced. Second, when the chosen 5 are announced.

What I like generally is the passion with which folks who know and appreciate the past LOBBY for the past. Many believe the trailblazers of the 50s and 60s should be admitted to the hall before those who arrived in the 70s and 80s. Good argument to be made for that.

I also get the opinion by some that a balanced class is needed of those from the past and those a bit more contemporary. If all old guys are inducted, none will be able to deliver their own acceptance speech. If all "modern" folks are chosen, everyone will scream the voters have forgotten the past.

I also get the economics. The Hall has been a colossal failure from a business model perspective. Attendance hasn't even been close to what was pitched to the taxpayers. Winston Kelly & Co. desperately need folks coming through the turnstiles and corporate, catered events.

What is more likely to attract the casual and maybe even repeat visitors and events? Dale Earnhardt or Ralph? Rick Hendrick's cars or a Raymond Parks glass-encased exhibit? A feature on Benny having seen him on ESPN - or a nod to Byron from 60+ years ago? Not saying it's right - just saying I could understand how the economics of the hall could influence some of the votes.

I had strong feelings for who I wanted in those first few classes. Now, I just shrug and accept whoever they choose. One, all are deserving - just a matter of when they go in. Two, I can't do anything about it anyway. Ha. Hall apathy? Oh yeah. And I'm a racing lifer. Really doesn't bode well for Charlotte. Interest by residents & visitors is waning more and more with each passing day.

Having said that, give me these 5 for the next class to be inducted in January 2016.

• Raymond Parks - owner
• Jerry Cook - driver / modified champ
• Terry Labonte - driver / contemporary Cup champ
• Red Byron - driver / historical Cup champ
• Robert Yates - engine man with Holman Moody (60s), Junior Johnson (70s), DiGard (70s-80s) - incl Richard Petty's 200th win with Curb, and Ranier (80s). car owner with many signature wins and a championship.

As for who needs to be nominated, here are a few I'd like to see considered:

• Jim Paschal
• Jake Elder
• Clay Earles
• Enoch Stacy
• Paul Sawyer
• Jimmy Insolo

Richmond Grand American 200 May 13, 1970

Stock Car Racing History

Including Tiny's win in Sacramento when he made a quick out west for a NASCAR Pacific Coast late model division (later WInston West) race, his NASCAR-race winning streak grew to 10 at Richmond.

Richmond Grand American 200 May 13, 1970

Stock Car Racing History

From Milwaukee Journal

Racing History Minute - May 11, 1958

Stock Car Racing History

Greensboro Speedway in North Carolina hosted only three Grand National races. Paul Goldsmith and Buck Baker won the first two in 1957. The final one was run on May 11, 1958.

Greensboro's local feller, Bob Welborn, qualified in the top spot in a #44 1957 Chevrolet. Sources I've checked suggest Julian Petty was Welborn's car owner of record; however, I'm not entirely convinced of that stat.

Throughout 1958 (and for much of the rest of his career), Welborn raced car #49. Recent NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Rex White made 16 GN starts in car #44 in 1958. Some records indicate White made most of those starts in Julian Petty's cars. In speaking with White in October 2014, however, he insisted he never raced for Petty. Max Welborn, Bob's brother, fielded GN cars in that era - some numbered #44.

Bob Welborn raced full-time in 1958 with Julian in the convertible division, but they raced only part-time in the GN series. The day before the Greensboro race, Welborn finished 6th in the Rebel 300 convertible race at Darlington. With Greensboro being only one day later and a "hometown" track for Welborn, I'm thinking Bob may have hitched a ride in his brother's car as Julian took the ragtop home to tweak it for its next event.

Regardless of who owned the car, Welborn was a wheelman with it that day in Greensboro. He led wire to wire to claim the victory.

Read on for more:

http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2015/05/may-11-1958-bob-welborn-wins-greensboro.html

updated by @tmc-chase: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

MODEL CITY 300 May 3, 1970

Stock Car Racing History

Racing History Minute - May 2, 1954

Stock Car Racing History

Race was the 1954 season opener for Langhorne.

From April 11 Philadelphia Inquirer

Paul Whiteman, the former King of Jazz, was the honorary starter. I have no idea how Pops lost his title as King.From April 30 Philadelphia Inquirer

Lee Petty did indeed win the pole. The top 10 qualifiers from May 2 Philadelphia Inquirer.

1. Lee Petty

2. Buck Baker

3. Herb Thomas

4. Dick Rathman

5. Pepper Cunningham

6. Russ Hepler

7. Stan Kross (Samuel in paper)

8. Jim Clark

9. Joe Eubanks

10. Elton Hildreth

Interestingly, Cunningham isn't listed in the finishing order. In comparing car numbers, it seems Al Keller finished second in the #23 car qualified by Cunningham.

Race report from May 3 Philadelphia Inquirer

updated by @tmc-chase: 05/01/17 11:58:30PM

Racing History Minute - May 2, 1954

Stock Car Racing History

Yesterday, I posted about one of Herb Thomas' worst days that took place at Charlotte Speedway on May 1, 1955. 364 days earlier, he had a much better one at the famed dirt circle Langhorne Speedway in Pennsylvania.

Race preview from Reading Eagle .

Lee Petty apparently started from the pole position - though the rest of the starting line-up seems to have been lost. Petty maximized the leverage of his top qualifying time. When the green flag dropped, Petty hit turn 1 in the lead and didn't surrender it...until. Papa Lee led the first half of the race until his Chrysler began overheating. Lee was able to continue for another 50 laps or so, but he was done for the day in terms of competing for the win.

With Petty out of the picture, Thomas took over the lead. Matching Lee's performance, Thomas led the SECOND half of the race on his way to the checkered flag.

Herb Thomas in victory lane with Smokey Yunick. - Getty Images

Race report from Daytona Beach Morning Journal.

Thomas backed up his May 2nd win at Langhorne with a repeat performance when the GN drivers returned. On September 26, 1954, he won the race again as [ documented here by Tim Leeming ].

Fin	Driver	Car
1	Herb Thomas	'54 Hudson
2	Al Keller	'54 Hudson
3	Dick Rathman	'54 Hudson
4	Joe Eubanks	'51 Hudson
5	Paul Pettit	'53 Hudson
6	Buck Baker	'53 Oldsmobile
7	Whitey Brainerd	'49 Ford
8	Blackie Pitt	'49 Plymouth
9	Lee Petty	'54 Chrysler
10	Gary Mathieson	'50 Ford
11	Bobby Courtwright	'50 Ford
12	Laird Bruner	'53 Oldsmobile
13	Wimpy Ervin	'51 Henry J
14	Jim Clark	'53 Oldsmobile
15	Bill Blair	'53 Hudson
16	Elton Hildreth	'54 Nash
17	Matt Gowan	'53 Plymouth
18	Russ Hepler	'53 Hudson
19	Bill Chevalier	'51 Ford
20	Harvey Eakin	'53 Nash
21	Jack Harrison	'54 Oldsmobile
22	Stan Kross	'54 Hudson
23	Gober Sosebee	'54 Oldsmobile
24	Dave Terrell	'54 Dodge
25	Eddie Skinner	'53 Oldsmobile

updated by @tmc-chase: 05/01/17 11:57:55PM

Important Talladega Video

General

Maybe she was "all in" on auditioning for a new sponsor.

Racing History Minute - May 1, 1955

Stock Car Racing History

Race ad and preview

And how mentally tough was Buck Baker? He raced in the [ modified-sportsman race at Darlington ]on Saturday, May 1, was in a plane crash with his wife as they left after the race to head for home, and then returned on Sunday, May 2 to win the race in Charlotte.